1 materialize | Definition of materialize

materialize

verb
ma·​te·​ri·​al·​ize | \ mÉ™-ˈtir-Ä“-É™-ËŒlÄ«z How to pronounce materialize (audio) \
materialized; materializing

Definition of materialize

transitive verb

1a : to make material : objectify
b : to cause to appear in bodily form materialize the spirits of the dead
2 : to cause to be materialistic

intransitive verb

1 : to assume bodily form
2a : to appear especially suddenly
b : to come into existence

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Other Words from materialize

materializer noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for materialize

Synonyms

actualize, appear, arise, begin, break, commence, dawn, engender, form, originate, set in, spring, start

Antonyms

cease, end, stop

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Examples of materialize in a Sentence

A waiter suddenly materialized beside our table. Rain clouds materialized on the horizon.

Recent Examples on the Web

Their deaths will open a gap in which will materialize a vision of the monk’s immortal self. Brandon Shimoda, Harper's magazine, "The Fruits of Suffering," 19 Aug. 2019 Fonseca was known for his depictions of Coyote, a canine trickster who materializes in all manner of very human settings. Los Angeles Times, "Datebook: How Duke Ellington inspired an art show about black and Latino experience," 15 Aug. 2019 The main protest of about a hundred people materialized along a stretch of South Main Street, in a grassy field a few blocks from the hospital where Trump was visiting some of the shooting victims. BostonGlobe.com, "Trump visits the grieving, and stokes divisions," 7 Aug. 2019 In Dayton, the main protest, which drew about 100 people, materialized along a stretch of South Main Street, in a grassy field a few blocks from the hospital where Mr. Trump was visiting some of the shooting victims. Michael Crowley, New York Times, "Trump Uses a Day of Healing to Deepen the Nation’s Divisions," 7 Aug. 2019 For the most part, that hasn’t materialized in the West, where the financial industry is ruled by heavy regulation and dominated by powerful corporate institutions. John Detrixhe, Quartz, "The world’s finance chiefs are worried about Facebook’s Libra disrupting their own currencies," 17 July 2019 Fonseca was known for his depictions of Coyote, a canine trickster who materializes in all manner of very human settings. Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Datebook: At the Getty, one of Gordon Parks’ most controversial photographic series," 11 July 2019 When El tries to find out what happened to Heather using her telepathic powers, the way the red door to Heather’s house materializes in her vision looks a lot like the Shining scene when blood bursts out of the elevator doors, except in reverse. Time, "Breaking Down the Many Stranger Things Season 3 References You Might Have Missed," 4 July 2019 Posturing aside, there is a good chance of some sort of deal materializing in coming months. Nathaniel Taplin, WSJ, "More Tariffs Are Exactly What China Inc. Doesn’t Need," 10 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'materialize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of materialize

1710, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

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More Definitions for materialize

materialize

verb

English Language Learners Definition of materialize

: to become visible : to appear especially in a sudden or magical way
: to begin to happen or exist : to occur or become real

materialize

verb
ma·​te·​ri·​al·​ize | \ mÉ™-ˈtir-Ä“-É™-ËŒlÄ«z How to pronounce materialize (audio) \
materialized; materializing

Kids Definition of materialize

1 : to appear suddenly As soon as I arrived, my friends materialized.
2 : to become actual fact Their hopes never materialized.
3 : to cause to take on a physical form She claimed she could materialize the spirits of the dead.

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